Tamperproof securing device

ABSTRACT

A tamperproof securing device for spray tops of aerosol cans comprising a nozzle cover member or shield specifically configured to be mounted in or adjacent to a groove-like recess extending along the diameter of the spray cap. A spray button extends through an aperture in the cap and is at least partially surrounded or encased by the shield due to one or more depending flanges formed thereon. Shield is attached to the spray cap by means of outer peripheral portions configured to fit within depressed portions of the spray cap along the upper edges of the recess groove. Alternately the shield may be attached to the spray cap by forming its outer peripheral portion somewhat thinner than the remaining inner portion and attaching the thin peripheral portion to the area adjacent the upper edge of the recessed groove without forming a depressed area thereabout. A score line or weakened line may be formed at the approximate juncture between the upper edge of the recessed groove and the relatively thin peripheral portions of the shield.

United States Patent 1 Grothoff [451 May 6,1975

[ TAMPERPROOF SECURING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Hans Grothoff, 5882 Meuerzhagen 2 auf der Hardt 20, Meuerzhagen, Germany {22] Filed: May 15, 1972 I 21 Appl. No.: 253,161

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 236,700, March 21,

1972, Pat. No. 3,851,803.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 13, 1971 Germany 2123796 [52] US. Cl. 222/153; 220/27; 220/85 P; 222/182 [51] Int. Cl B67b 5/00 [58] Field of Search. 222/182, 153, 402.13, 402.12, ZZZ/402.11; 220/85 P, 42 A, 27

Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-John P. Shannon Attorney, Agent, or FirmStein and Orman 5 7 ABSTRACT A tamperproof securing device for spray tops of aerosol cans comprising a nozzle cover member or shield specifically configured to be mounted in or adjacent to a groove-like recess extending along the diameter of the spray cap. A spray button extends through an aperture in the cap and is at least partially surrounded or encased by the shield clue to one or more depend ing flanges formed thereon. Shield is attached to the spray cap by means of outer peripheral portions configured to fit within depressed portions of the spray cap along the upper edges of the recess groove. Alternately the shield may be attached to the spray cap by forming its outer peripheral portion somewhat thinner than the remaining inner portion and attaching the thin peripheral portion to the area adjacent the upper edge of the recessed groove without forming a depressed area thereabout. A score line or weakened line may be formed at the approximate juncture between the upper edge of the recessed groove and the relatively thin peripheral portions of the shield.

12 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PFJENTEU HAY 61975 SHEET 1 BF 3 E TEHTEMW 6am SHEET 2 UP 3 FIG.7

F'IG.6

REYENIEBHAY ems 3.881.638

sum anr 3 TAMPERPROOF SECURING DEVICE RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part application of presently co-pending application Ser. No. 236,700 filed Mar. 21, 1972 now US. Pat. No. 3,851,803, in the name of Hans Brothoff.

An application on the subject invention was first filed by applicant in Germany on May 13, 1971 and by virtue of such foreign application a right of priority is hereby claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to a tamperproof securing device of the type designed to be removably secured to the spray cap of an aerosol container such that the spray button is at least partially encased in order to prevent inadvertent or unauthorized use of the container without complete removal of the device.

Description of the Prior Art In conventional, prior art tamperproof devices for aerosol containers, a guard comprising webs or flanges is molded on the body of the spray cap affixed to theh top of the body of the container. The relative complicated and expensive tooling needed for the production of these prior art devices make their manufacture complex and of course expensive. Other known devices of this type secure a guard to the cap after its formation by subsequently sticking, welding or the like. This structure also requires specialized production facilities and automated techniques. Accordingly, such structures have been found to be uneconomical. Other tamperproof guards presently available merely cover the spray button in an attempt to prevent its actuation. However this type design provides unsatisfactory security against unauthorized use, since a tool can be inserted below the guard. When activation of the button occurs in this manner there is nothing to intercept the spray stream and prevent inssurance of the product from the container. Based on recognized problems, in this area it is also desirable that after theh guard has been removed, recognizable signs remain to make any tampering readily obvious.

One problem common to the vast majority of tamperproof devices is their lack of versatility which renders them unavailable for application with the configuration of presently configured overcaps. This of course necessitates the re-design of existing overcaps and subsequently the re-design of production facilities therefore.

Therefore, it can readily be seen that there is a need in the industry for a tamperproof device of the general type described which can be manufactured simply and economically and which includes a structure which renders the device versatile enough to be attached to conventional spray caps without calling for any structural change thereof. Such a versatile structure has a further economical advantage in view of the fact that it can be manufactured, installed using available tools, production facilitates etc. Such a structure shows definite tamperproof protection and makes removal of the guard readily obvious. Also, such a tamperproof device should be efficient while giving the spray top an attractive and striking appearance as a further stimulus to its purchase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVNETION This invention relates to a tamperproof securing device for spray caps of aerosol cans comprising a nozzle shield means configured to fit over a spray cap which is formed with a groove-like recess. The recess extends along a diameter of the spray cap. A spray head or nozzle extends through an aperture at the center of the recess, the same increasing in width in the center to both sides and sloping down towards the top of the can. The nozzle shield means covers the spray head or nozzle and has at least a first dependent flange extending transversely of the recess length and bent towards the base of the recess.

More particularly, the cover member or nozzle shield means is configured to fit within a depressed area of the spray cap so as to be substantially coplanar with the spray cap upper surface. Consequently, standard spray cap configurations must, if they are to be used along with the present invention, be formed with corresponding indentations or a depressed area on both sides of the groove-like recess. Alternately, the depressions are not formed in the spray cap and the peripheral portions of the shield means which bears on the spray cap are much thinner than those part of the covere which cover the groove-like recess. In this embodiment the top of the peripheral bearing portions are substantially coplacess. The difference in height between the top surface of the spray cap and the top surface of the shield means is not a disadvantage and is preferably one millimeter or less.

Dependent on the embodiment, the shield means is connected by the peripheral bearing surfaces to the spray cap either to be releasable by the use of force or non-releaseable wherein the peripheral bearing portions remains attached to the spray cap. If releasably mounted, it is apparent that the correspoding places on the spray top were mounted, that the shield has been removed. If non-releaseably connected to the srpay cap the shield is formed with perforations or tear-off lines, preferably along the inside or upper edges of the recess of the cap, enabling the shield means to be separated from the peripheral bearing portions by the use of force. Such removal is made apparent from those bearing portions which remain on the spray top.

The peripheral bearing portions may be secured to the spray cap by adhesive application or welding. However, dependent upon the embodiment utilized, additional securing means may be provided between the cover and the spray cap in the form of a peg or pin or similar connector or by a catch-like connection.

Additional structural features of the present invention include the shield having, rearwarly of the spray head or nozzle, a second depending flange which extends substantially tranversely to the length of the groove-like recess. This flange extends only partially into the recess and provides space for a finger hole for removing the cover.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties and relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. I is an exploded perspective view of the tamperproof securing device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the cover engaged in a groove-like recess.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views showing in detail designated structure of FIG. 2.

FIg. 5 is a top plane, partial cutaway view showing the spray cap and shield means attached thereto.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are sectional views showing two embodiments of the present invention directed to the connecting of the peripheral bearing portions to the spray cap.

FIG. 8 is a top plane, partial cutaway view of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing various structure in detail as indicated in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing various structure in detail as indicated in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of one embodiment of the shield means with strengthening member attached thereto.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention utilizing the shield means structure of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing additional structure of FIG. 14 in greater detail as indicated.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1 there can be seen a unitary cover or shield means 1 and a spray cap 2 which is disposed on aerosol can 5. A spray can or nozzle 4 projects outwardly through an aperture at the center of the spray cap 2. Shield means I is placed on depressed portions or shoulders 3 on both sides of the groove-like recess such that a depending flange 6 shields the spray head or nozzle 4. In its front widened region the flange 6 is configured to correspond to the groove-like recess in the spray cap 2. Shield means 1 also hs a rear dependent flange 7, as shown in FIG. 1 and 2, so devised so as to lead a finger hole 8 (see FIG. 2) in the rearward narrower portion of the groove-like recess. This allows a finger to be placed of the groove-like recess. This allows a finger to be placed below the cover 1 for ready removal thereof. Because of the shaping of the groovelike recess in the spray cap 2 and the groove matching shape of the shield means or cover 1, the latter can be fitted only in the proper position.

FIg. 2 is a cross section through the spray cap 2 of FIG. 1 with the shield means 1 fitted thereon. The shield means 1 is wider than the groove-like recess in the spray cap 2. That are or peripheral portions of the shield means 1 which projects beyond the width of the groove-like recess bear on the depressed area 3 of the spray cap 2 laterally of the groove-like recess. The manner in which the shield means bears on the area 3 and the nature of the connection between the same and the shield means 1 may vary.

Referring to FIG. 3 the shield means 1 has been engaged in the depression 3 of the spray cap 2 and is coplanar with the top surface thereof. The peripheral bearing portions of the cover 1 is connected to the depressions 3 by sticking or welding. However, other connecting means may be utilized depending on the embodiments of the invention being applied. Referring to FIG. 4, a catch connection is is shown which can be provided in addition to a connection by sticking or welding. In the catch connection, a portion 9' projecting from the outer periphery of cover 1 engages in a groove 9 which extends along the edge of the groovelike recess. When the shield means of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5 are removed with some force, the connections between the peripheral bearing portions of the shield means 1 and the depressions 3 of the spraytype 2 are broken.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of one of the embodiments shown in FIGS. l-4. In the left hand half of FIG. 5 the spray cap 2 is shown as a cover 1 on it. In the right half of FIG. 5 the spray cap 2 is shown after removal of the shield means 1. As FIG. 5 shows, the shield means 1 is removed completely in the embodiments. Of course the cover 1 can be formed in these embodiments with a tear-off line or perforation along the inside edge of the depressions 3. Accordingly, if the peripheral bearing portions of the shield means 1 have an appropriately tight connection with the depressions 3, cover 1, when raised, or torn off by tearing along the perforation or tearoff line, is removed but its bearing surfaces are not. The

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 shield means 1 is secured to depressions 3 of spray cap 2 by a pin or peg or similar connection 12 which can, if required be provided in addition to a connection by sticking or welding. To embody the connection 12, pins or pegs or the like 13 on the button of bearing surface or shield means 1 engage the cap 2 by means of a widened end in a groove or passage or the like 14 whose diameter is less than the widened end of the member 13. Also in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 there is a perforation 11 along the inside edge of each shoulder 3, so that when the cover 1 is raised the perforation 11 and the shield means is removed but its bearing surfaces are not. The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 except that a weld connection 15 is used instead of the pin or peg connection 12.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 1-8 require the use of a spray cap having depressions 3 on the two opposite sides of the groove-like recess dimensioned and configurated to receive the cover in such a way that the surface thereof is coplanar with the spray cap 2. Consequently, standard spray caps can be used for the embodiment shown in FIG. 1-8 only after appropriate working steps have been made to contrive the depressions 3.

Spray caps having the depressions 3 can of course be produced by such production may cause an unwanted diversification of spray cap production. Hence, the embodiments of tamperproof securings of the kind shown in FIGS. 9, l1 and 14 are provided which can be faired from standard spray caps without depressions 3.

FIG. 9 shows a shield means 1 which is borne by a standard spray cap 16 having portions 17 integral with the cover or shield means 1. The surface thereof and the surface of the bearing portion 17 are coplanar but are much thinner than the cover 1 to prevent any difficulties from differences in height between the spray top surface and the surface of the cover 1. Preferably, such height difference is one milimeter or less. If required, the portion 17 can narrow towards its outside edge to make the height difference imperceptible. The portions 17 are secured to the associated bearing surfaces of the standard spray cap 16 preferably by sticking or welding. Tear-off lines are provided on the surface of the cover 1 along the inside edges of the caps 16, so that when the cover 1 is torn off the tearing-off takes place along the tear-off lines and the portions 17 remain behind on the spray cap 16.

As can be gathered from FIG. 10 to facilitate tearingoff of the shield means 1 a further tear-off line 11 on the opposite side (the bottom) of the cover 1 can be associated with the tear-off line 1 1 on the top of cover 1.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the cover 1 is made of a strong thin material, preferably aluminum. The portions 17 can have a plastic coating or cover 18 (FIG. 12) on the bottom and be connected by way of the covering 18 to the standard spray cap 16. The portions 17 can be secured to the spray cap 2 by adhesive or welding. According to another feature of this embodiment, tear-off lines 11 are provided so that when the cover 1 is torn off the portions 17 remain behind on the spray cap 2. FIG. 12 shows details of the cover or shield means 1 bottom plastic coating or covering 18.

FIG. 13 is a view of a cover 1 which is made of a thin material. A strengthening layer 19 made of the same material as is used for the cover 1 or of some other applicable material is provided on the inside to strengthen the cover 1. For instance, the cover 1 can be made of a plastic or be a second layer of aluminum. Preferably the strengthening layer is connected to the cover 1 via a self-adhesive layer.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show an embodiment wherein that part of the cover 1 which is above the groove-like recess has a strengthening layer 19 but the bearing portion 17 has no similar strengthening. For instance, the cover 1 can be made of 0.2 mm thick aluminum sheet while the strengthening layer 19 can be made of a plastic which is stuck to the underside of the cover 1. Preferably, if the cover 1 is made of aluminum, it and the portion 17 have a bottom coating of plastics.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above article without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described,

What is claimed is:

l. A tarn'perproof securing device used in combination with a spray cap for aerosol cans, the cap including a groove-like recess extending along a diameter thereof, an aperture formed in the cap at the approximate center of the recess, whereby a spray nozzle may extend therethrough, the recess increasing in width from the center to both sides and sloping down towards the top of the can; a cover member configured to correspond to the geometric shape of the recess and at last partially enclosing the nozzle, sais cover member comprising at least one dependent flange extending tranversely of the recess length and bent towards the base of the recess, said cover member being wider than the groove-like recess and including peripheral bearing portions bearing on and connected to the spray cap.

2. a securing device as in claim 1 comprising depressions on said cap correspondingly configured to said peripheral bearing portions, said peripheral bearing portions and said depression means dimensioned to allow the surface of the spray cap and the peripheral bearing portions to be substantially co-planar.

3. A securing device as in claim 1 comprising a cap having a substantially even, underpressed upper surface portion, said peripheral portions configured to extend beyond the width of the groove-like recess.

4. A securing device as in claim 1 wherein said peripheral bearing portions are dimensioned thinner than the remainder of said cover member which covers the groove-like recess, the surface of said peripheral bearing portions mounted on said cap so as to be co-planar with the surface of the cap. 7

5. A securing device as in claim 1 comprising a depending flange mounted on the rear of said cover means and extending transversely of the length of the groove-like recess, said rear flange extending partially into such recess and partially defining a space between the rear flange and the recess base for removing the cover.

6. A securing device as in claim 1 wherein said peripheral bearing portions are adhesively connected to said cap.

7. A securing device as in claim 1 comprising snap connector means interconnected between said peripheral bearing portion mounted on the spray cap.

8. A securing device as in claim 7 wherein said snap connector means comprises peg means interconnected between said peripheral bearing portions and said spray cap. 1

9. A securing device according to claim 1 wherein said cover member comprises tear line means formed thereon adjacent to the upper edge of the recess of the cap.

10. A securing device according to claim 1 wherein said cover member further comprises strengthening means including a thickened portion configured to cover the groove-like recess on the cap.

11. A securing device according to claim 1 comprising the cover member being made from a plastic material.

12. A securing device according to claim 1 further comprising the cover member being made from an aluminum material. 

1. A tamperproof securing device used in combination with a spray cap for aerosol cans, the cap including a groove-like recess extending along a diameter thereof, an aperture formed in the cap at the approximate center of the recess, whereby a spray nozzle may extend therethrough, the recess increasing in width from the center to both sides and sloping down towards the top of the can; a cover member configured to correspond to the geometric shape of the recess and at last partially enclosing the nozzle, sais cover member comprising at least one dependent flange extending tranversely of the recess length and bent towards the base of the recess, said cover member being wider than the groove-like recess and including peripheral bearing portions bearing on and connected to the spray cap.
 2. a securing device as in claim 1 comprising depressions on said cap correspondingly configured to said peripheral bearing portions, said peripheral bearing portions and said depression means dimensioned to allow the surface of the spray cap and the peripheral bearing portions to be substantially co-planar.
 3. A securing device as in claim 1 comprising a cap having a substantially even, underpressed upper surface portion, said peripheral portions configured to extend beyond the width of the groove-like recess.
 4. A securing device as in claim 1 wherein said peripheral bearing portions are dimensioned thinner than the remainder of said cover member which covers the groove-like recess, the surface of said peripheral bearing portions mounted on said cap so as to be co-planar with the surface of the cap.
 5. A securing device as in claim 1 comprising a depending flange mounted on the rear of said cover means and extending transversely of the length of the groove-like recess, said rear flange extending partially into such recess and partially defining a space between the rear flange and the recess base for removing the cover.
 6. A securing device as in claim 1 wherein said peripheral bearing portions are adhesively connected to said cap.
 7. A securing device as in claim 1 comprising snap connector means interconnected between said peripheral bearing portion mounted on the spray cap.
 8. A securing device as in claim 7 wherein said snap connector means comprises peg means interconnected between said peripheral bearing portions and said spray cap.
 9. A securing device according to claim 1 wherein said cover member comprises tear line means formed thereon adjacent to the upper edge of the recess of the cap.
 10. A securing device according to claim 1 wherein said cover member further comprises strengthening means including a thickened portion configured to cover the groove-like recess on the cap.
 11. A securing device according to claim 1 comprising the cover member being made from a plastic material.
 12. A securing device according to claim 1 further comprising the cover member being made from an aluminum material. 